Apparatus to secure the mouth of a bag open for sliding debris into the bag

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to hold the mouth of a bag open to facilitate sliding debris into a bag being a pair of a loops, each having at least one straight side, that mate together with the open edge of the bag between them.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to bags, specifically a device to hold a bag open to facilitate sliding debris into the bag.

2. Related Art

It is necessary when filling a flimsy bag to have a means of keeping the mouth of the bag open while it is being filled. One method is to use a trashcan or similar apparatus, which holds the bag vertically such that the opening is horizontal and elevated above the ground. The problem with this method is it requires lifting the debris up to the opening of the bag, which is inefficient and fatiguing to the human body especially when the debris is made up of a large amount of tiny loose pieces, such as leaves, that require repeatedly lifting handfuls or scoops of the debris. A more efficient method is to slide large amounts of the debris directly into the bag. One way of doing this is to have one or more people hold the bag open while another slides the debris into the bag. But, this is also inefficient since it requires more than one person, who may not be available, and it can be awkward for a person using only his/her limbs to keep the opening in the optimal shape and position for filling. So far, apparatuses designed to enable sliding debris into a bag have been impractical to actually use. Their designs are overly complex and lack the optimal combination of features, thus making them too expensive and inconvenient to be worthwhile.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,415 describes an apparatus that does not adequately hold the opening of the bag flush to the ground. The bag would slide out of the slots on the base member as the debris is being forced into the bag. Furthermore, it consists of a multitude of parts that must be assembled and adjusted prior to actually putting it to use. Even after the apparatus is assembled, a multitude of clips must be applied and removed each time the bag is changed, which is vary time consuming. It would be easier and cheaper to use a trashcan.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,028 also does not adequately hold the opening of the bag flush to the ground. The open edge of the bag that is supposed to be flat against the ground is not clamped to the apparatus and, therefore, debris would catch on and slide under the bag opening as it is swept into the bag.

The apparatuses of U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,521 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,041 do not adequately secure the bag to frame. The only method of securing the bag to the frame is that it is “stretched” around the frame. This requires it to be made to a specific size for a specific size bag in order for the bag to fit tightly over the frame. This severely limits the range of bag sizes it can be used with. Even if the bag is stretched tightly over the frame, it will still slip off as debris is being forced into it. They also consist of a system of tubes that must be fitted together, which adds to the manufacturing expense and inconvenience to the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,753 also describes an apparatus that does not adequately secure bag to frame. It relies on the frictional force of the inner and outer loops against each other. These would easily slide apart as debris is forced into the bag, especially as the parts become worn and deformed from use, which is evident by the statement that they freely pass through each other.

SUMMARY

The invention presented in this patent is an apparatus to hold a mouth of a bag open such that part of the opening of the bag is straight so a wide portion of the opening can be held flush with a flat surface to facilitate sliding piles of debris into the bag. The apparatus comprises a pair of members that fit and join together with a portion of the bag proximate the bag's mouth secured between them. One of the members is a support member, which is typically a loop of material with at least one straight segment that supports the shape of the bag mouth. The other member is a retaining member that secures substantially the entire periphery of the bag mouth to the support member.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the apparatus with the support loop and retaining loop joined together with the support loop inserted inside the longitudinal slot of the retaining loop.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment with the support loop and retaining loop separated from each other.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the support loop and retaining loop joined together taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment being applied to a bag.

FIG. 5 shows the preferred embodiment holding the mouth of a bag open and ready to be filled.

FIGS. 6 through 13 show cross sections of various alternative embodiments of the apparatus.

FIG. 14 through 18 show additional features of the apparatus that can be incorporated into specific embodiments to assist in holding the apparatus steady.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1—entire apparatus     -   2—support loop     -   2 a to 2 h—alternative embodiments of support loop     -   3—retaining loop     -   3 a to 3 h—alternative embodiments of retaining loop     -   4—longitudinal slot     -   4 a to 4 h—alternative embodiments of longitudinal slot     -   5—bag     -   6—hook (latch)     -   7—ridge     -   8—groove     -   9, 11 and 12—convex sides of support loop     -   10, 13 and 14—convex sides of retaining loop     -   15, 17, 18 and 2—concave sides of support loop     -   16, 19 and 20—concave sides of retaining loop     -   22—handle     -   23—spikes     -   24—legs     -   25—feet     -   26—footplate

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the invention 1 as two D-shaped loops, one being a support loop 2 and the other being a retaining loop 3. The support loop 2 is single piece typically molded from a rigid and durable material such as but not limited to steel, aluminum, or plastic. Retaining loop 3 is also typically a single piece molded of a durable, and resilient material, such as but nor limited to rubber or plastic. The retaining loop 3 may be comprised of a flexible elastomeric material such as rubber and certain plastics such that the retaining member is not self supporting when in looped form. Alternatively, the retaining loop 3 can be comprised of a rigid material similar to the material comprising the support loop 2 but having features that permit the material to elastically and resiliently deform when joined with the support loop 2. The retaining loop 3 has a longitudinal slot 4 that extends along the circumference of the retaining loop 3 for receiving support loop 2.

The various components of the apparatus are typically molded, such as injection or vacuum molded when the apparatus is comprised of a plastic material. However, other suitable manufacturing methods can be utilized to fabricate the loops as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 2 is a isometric view of support loop 2 and retaining loop 3 separated from each other. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of support loop 2 and retaining loop 3 mated together. As shown in FIG. 3, support loop 2 has a generally rectangular cross section and retaining loop 3 has a generally U-shaped (or C-shaped) cross section. The relative dimensions of support loop 2 and retaining loop 3 are such that support loop 2 fits tightly within longitudinal slot 4 with a single layer of the bag proximate its mouth 5 secured between the loops while also allowing manual joining and separation of the two loops. In this preferred embodiment, the support loop 2 protrudes a sufficient distance beyond the opening of longitudinal slot 4 to be manually grasped by the user to facilitate separating the two loops, although a substantial portion of both the top and bottom sides of the support loop are covered by the slot 4.

FIGS. 6 through 13 are cross sectional views showing various alternative embodiments for mating the two loops to prevent unintentional separation. FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 3 except that retaining loop 3 a substantially encloses support loop 2 a and has an additional hook (or latch) 6 that braces against a front side of the support loop 2 a to assist in securing the retaining loop and the sandwiched bag in place.

FIG. 7 is also similar to FIG. 3 with the exception that the support loop 2 b has a ridge 7 and the retaining loop 3 b has a groove 8 to receive ridge 7. Accordingly, the corresponding ridge and groove act to snapidly join the two loops together to assist in securing the retaining loop and the sandwiched bag in place.

FIG. 8 shows the support loop 2 c having a convex side 9 and the longitudinal slot 4 c in the retaining loop 3 c having a curved concave side 10 to fit the convex side of support loop 2 c. Accordingly, the retaining loop snaps in place over the support member to firmly secure it in place. FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment very similar to that of FIG. 8 except the support loop 2 d has two convex sides 11 and 12 and the longitudinal slot 4 d in the retaining loop 3 d has two curved concave sides 13 and 14 to fit the convex sides of the support loop.

FIG. 10 shows the support loop 2 e having a concave side 15 and the longitudinal slot 4 e in the retaining loop 3 e having a curved convex side 16 to fit the concave side 15 of support loop 2 e. In a manner similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 8, the retaining loop snaps in place over the support member to firmly secure it in place. FIG. 11 shows the support loop 2 f having two concave sides 17 and 18 and the longitudinal slot 4 f in the retaining loop 3 f having two curved sides 19 and 20 to fit the concave sides of support loop 2 f.

FIG. 12 shows support loop 2 g and retaining loop 3 g with circular cross sections. Accordingly, the retaining loop snaps over the circular support loop to secure it and the bag in place.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 13 where the retaining loop 3 h is a band of flexible and resilient material that stretches to fit around the outside the support loop 2 h and biases the portion of the bag sandwiched therebetween against the concave surface 21 in support loop 2 h.

FIGS. 14-18 show various components that can be included with various embodiments to help support or hold the apparatus in an upright and generally vertical position to facilitate the apparatus's use. FIG. 14 shows the device with an optional handle 22 attached to support loop 2 for manually maneuvering and holding the device. The handle can be stationary, retractable or detachable. Further, the handle may be pivotally connected to the apparatus, fixed thereto or integrally molded therewith.

FIGS. 15 through 18 show additional components or features for making embodiments of the apparatus free standing. FIG. 15 shows the device with optional spikes 23 that protrude from the bottom of support loop 2 so as to be inserted into the ground. FIG. 16 shows the device with optional legs 24 attached to support loop 2. FIG. 17 shows the device with optional feet 25 attached to support loop 2. FIG. 18 shows the device with optional footplate 26 attached to support loop 2 on which the user places his or her foot to hold the apparatus up right. The methods for making embodiments of the apparatus free standing described above may be stationary, retractable or detachable. Further, as applicable, they can be pivotally or fixedly attached to the apparatus or they can be integrally molded therewith.

The operation of the apparatus is simple. Referring to FIG. 4, the mouth 5 of the bag 27 is fed through support loop 2 and then the perimeter of the mouth 5 is folded back around support loop 2. With support loop 2 lying horizontal on a flat surface 28, retaining loop 3 is aligned parallel to support loop 2 with longitudinal slot 4 opening toward support loop 2 and pressed against support loop 2. By pressing the retaining loop 3 against support loop 2 the longitudinal slot 4 engulfs at least a portion of the support loop 2 with the perimeter of the bag proximate its mouth 5 trapped between them. Referring to FIG. 5, the apparatus 1 is then held perpendicular to the surface 28 near where a pile of debris 29 is located with the straight side 30 against the surface 28 and the debris 29 is slid into the bag in a sweeping motion. The bag is released by manually pulling retaining loop 3 and support loop 2 away from each other.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, one will see that preferred and alternative embodiments of the apparatus provide for an easy and efficient method to fill bags with debris consisting of many tiny loose pieces, such as leaves, grass clippings, grain or even gravel. With the present invention a person can hold a bag open with one hand and sweep the debris in with the other hand. It has the advantage of securing the entire perimeter of the bag opening to the support loop, which prevents snagging or bunching of the opening as debris is being slid into the bag. The bag opening dependably remains in the open position until the user intentionally releases it. The loops each comprise one piece and are easily manually press fitted together and separated making the present invention inexpensive and as quick and easy to set up as lining a trashcan.

The D-shape is preferred because it maximizes the contact of the flat side of the bag opening with the ground for receiving wide piles of debris while also providing sufficient height of the opening. However, the D-shape is not a requirement. Any shape that has at least one straight portion that can be placed flatly against the ground is contemplated. It is not a requirement that the apparatus be made to specific dimensions for specific bag sizes. Instead, it is an advantage that one particular size of the apparatus can work with a wide range of bag sizes since a bag with a larger perimeter length than he apparatus can be folded over proximate its mouth. It may be manufactured in several sizes, such as a large size to accommodate a range of extremely large bags for receiving extremely large amounts of debris, a medium size to accommodate the range of more commonly used house-hold lawn and trash bags, and a smaller size for the range of much smaller bags. Similarly, the dimensions may vary to accommodate thicker bags, such as canvas bags, and thinner bags, such as kitchen trash bags.

Is some cases it may be preferrable that the retaining loop be a sturdy rigid material such as aluminum, steel or a reinforced plastic instead of a more flexible material. Although it is preferred that the loops be manufactured by molding the material, it may alternatively be manufactured by elongated lengths of material that are bent to form the loop or any other suitable manufacturing techniques. Also, the retaining loop may remain an elongated length of flexible and resilient material that the user bends to match the shape of the support loop when applied to the support loop. Furthermore, the retaining loop may be two pieces, one being straight and the other being curved, which are applied to the straight and curved segments of the support loop respectively.

The preceding descriptions of the present invention only serve as examples of its preferred embodiment and certain alternative embodiments. The actual scope and limits of this patent should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than the examples given. 

1. An apparatus for holding the mouth of a flexible bag open, the apparatus comprising: a generally rigid self supporting first member forming a continuous loop, the loop having at least one substantially straight segment; a second member; and wherein one member of the first and second members has a slot formed therein, the slot extending substantially a length of the one member and being adapted to matingly receive the other member of the first and second members therein along substantially the entire periphery of the other member in a generally parallel orientation to each other with an entire periphery of the flexible bag proximate the mouth sandwiched therebetween; and wherein the slot encloses a substantial portion of the other member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member have complimentary cross sections that snapidly lock together to secure the portion of the bag sandwiched therebetween.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one side of the first member has one of a concave and convex cross section.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first member is generally rectangular in cross section and the second member has the slot formed therein, wherein the slot is adapted to wholly enclose at least one side of the first member and cover at least majority portions of two other sides of the first member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second member further includes one or more hook members, the hook members being adapted to latch against the first member.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second member forms a continuous loop.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second member comprises a generally flexible material.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second member comprises a generally rigid but resilient material.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support structure adapted to orientate and hold the apparatus in a generally vertical orientation.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support structure comprises at least one from the group of a leg, a foot and a spike.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a footplate, the footplate being attached to the apparatus proximate the straight segment.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle member.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second member comprises a length of generally flexible material, the length of generally flexible material being generally equal to a perimeter length of the first member.
 14. An apparatus to hold the mouth of a flexible bag open, the apparatus comprising: a support loop comprising a generally rigid self supporting material, the support loop having at least one straight segment and a generally rectangular cross section; and a retaining loop comprising a generally rigid and resilient material, the retainer loop having a generally C-shaped cross section defining a slot, the slot being sized to tightly receive the support loop with substantially the entire periphery of a portion of the flexible bag proximate the mouth wrapped around the support loop; wherein a least one side of the support loop is completely enclosed by the retainer loop and a majority of at least two other sides of the support loop are covered by the retaining loop.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least two sides of the support loop are substantially completely covered by the retaining loop.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one side of the support loop is one of concave or convex and at least one interior side of the slot corresponding to the at least one side of the support loop is the other of the concave and convex.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the support loop has at least one of a protrusion and a depression formed on at least one side thereof; and wherein at least one interior side of the slot has the other of at least one of the protrusion and the depression, the other of the protrusion and the depression corresponding to said at least one of a protrusion and a depression.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a ridge, the ridge extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the support loop, and the depression comprises a groove, the groove extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the retaining loop.
 19. An apparatus to hold the mouth of a flexible bag open, the apparatus comprising: a support member, the support member comprising a self-supporting loop of substantially rigid material and having a generally concave outer peripheral surface; and a retaining member, the retaining member comprising a looped band that is adapted to be received in the concave outer peripheral surface to bias a portion of the flexible bag sandwiched therebetween against the support member.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the looped band comprises a flexible and resilient material. 